Nothing else will make a post go viral if not the information available to the social media manager. As long as a social media manager knows his onions, he or she will often prepare a sumptuous meal (viral post).
Would you want to talk about one of your posts that went viral recently, and made you say, ‘Wow! I’ve blown on social media’? What are some of the things you think make a post go viral on Instagram, but not on Facebook, or on both social media platforms?
When a post goes viral, it gives marketers, influencers, and content creators a sense of belonging. However, you need to know what makes a post spread like wildfire across social media. Is it a question of pure luck, timing, or a secret formula?
In this blog article, we’ll dive into the science behind what makes a post go viral, and reveal the fundamental factors that contribute to viral content.
Knowing What Virality Means
How much do you understand what makes a post go viral? Virality is a cobweb that involves the combination of psychology, sociology, and information technology. Viralty is the result of a post being shared rapidly and extensively across social media platforms, often reaching millions of people within hours or days. This means you can not say you have posted viral content if millions of people did not see the post, and a large chunk of the number engaged with the post.
Fundamental Factors that make a Post go Viral
- Emotional Resonance: Posts that evoke strong emotions such as joy, surprise, or inspiration are more likely to go viral. This is because emotions trigger sharing behavior, as people want to spread the feeling.
- Social Identity: Content that resonates with people’s values, interests, or group affiliations can create a sense of shared identity, encouraging sharing.
- Attention-grabbing headlines: Crafted headlines can significantly increase engagement and sharing.
- Visual Content: Images, videos, and graphics increase sharing by 40% compared to text-only posts.
- Timing and Trends: Posting at optimal times, such as during peak hours or trending events, increases visibility.
- Influencer Collaboration: Partnering with influencers can expand reach and credibility.
- Engagement: Encouraging interactions through comments, polls, or contests fosters sharing.
- Network Effects: Posts shared by multiple people within a network create social proof.
The Psychology Behind Viral Posts
- Social Proof: People follow the actions of others, especially when they see friends or influencers sharing.
- Reciprocity: Sharing content can create a sense of obligation to reciprocate.
- Novelty: Unique or unexpected content captures attention.
- Storytelling: Compelling narratives resonate with audiences.
Algorithmic Factors
- Engagement Metrics: Platforms prioritize content with high engagement.
- Keyword Analysis: Relevant keywords improve discoverability.
- User Behavior: User interactions, such as time spent viewing, influence ranking.
Optimizing Your Content for Virality
- Know Your Audience: Understand their interests, values, and behaviors.
- Craft Compelling Headlines: Use emotional triggers and attention-grabbing language.
- Use Visuals: Incorporate high-quality images or videos.
- Time Strategically: Post during peak hours or trending events.
- Encourage Engagement: Ask questions, host contests, or create polls.
- Leverage Influencers: Partner with relevant influencers.
- Monitor Analytics: Track engagement using tools such as BuzzASumo and adjust your strategy, where necessary.
It’s not sheer luck that makes a post go viral; it’s however a combination of understanding your target audience, writing insightful content, and leveraging the algorithm of different social media platforms. By incorporating emotional resonance, social identity, attention-grabbing headlines, and visual content, you stand a chance of making your post go viral.
You should remember that not just one single strategy makes a post go viral. You need to test different strategies and current trends. You shouldn’t forget to track your analytics and measure key metrics, thereby adjusting your approach to optimize your content for maximum reach and engagement.
Based on your experience as a social media manager, what are some other factors not highlighted in this blog article that you think make a post go viral?